Pregnancy Week 14

Your baby's arms are growing longer and becoming more proportionate to the body. The bones continue to harden, the liver is producing bile, and the spleen is producing red blood cells. The brain's development has given rise to a new range of expressions, from grimace, to frowning, to squinting, the muscle contractions guiding these facial expressions reveal the new capabilities of the fetus. For boys, the prostate is growing, while for girls the ovaries have migrated from the abdomen to the pelvis. The skin is still transparent. The baby is over 4" long, and weighs just under 2 ounces, or about the size of a letter. The second trimester begins, marking the end of the most critical development, and best of all the risk of miscarriage is now greatly diminished.

Pregnancy Symptoms You May Feel During Week 14

Mood swings may start to be more problematic at this point in the pregnancy. Tears may erupt at the oddest of moments. Anger and frustration may flare unexpectedly. Sad spells may surprise you. Giddy moments are a welcome reprieve. All is due to hormones surging. No need to worry, you are not going crazy, even though it might feel that way at times. Of course, this is not the same as a persistent sadness. If that continues more than two weeks, consult your doctor.

Among the skin issues of pregnancy, is the growth of moles. While it is normal occurrence, you still want to have your physician take a look at any moles that have changed in size color or texture.

Another symptom to arise in the second trimester is round ligament pain. This pain is caused by the growing uterus stretching muscles and ligaments on the lower sides of the abdomen. Getting up suddenly, or switching positions rapidly can bring these pains on, so try to move gently from one position to the next. Remember to put up your feet and rest when possible, too.

Visit With the Obstetrician

You might discuss the possibility of an amniocentesis with your doctor. This is especially true if you are over 35 years of age, have a family history of genetic disorders, or received screening test results that indicated a possibility of a problem. The procedure is typically done between the 15th and 18th week of pregnancy and involves a needle being inserted through the abdomen and collecting some amniotic fluid to test for genetic and neural tube disorders. It is highly effective at determining the presence of such problems, 99% for neural tube, up to 100% for genetic disorders. However, there is a risk in the range of .3 %, of causing miscarriage. Discuss the risks, and benefits as well as the procedure itself thoroughly with your doctor. Don not be afraid to ask everything you are curious, or worried about. It is important to know all the necessary facts when making a decision about such tests.

Preparing for Baby

While planning the nursery, look carefully at the bedding choices. Bumper pads for instance are attractive, but now considered a hazard and put babies at increased for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Other risks associated with bedding for SIDS include blankets, comforters, stuffed animals and any other material that decreases air circulation in baby's sleeping area. Also, thick piled sheets are not considered prudent choices. Instead of blankets, put your baby to sleep in a blanket sleeper or sleep sac.

Pregnancy Lifestyle

Today's pregnant women don't dress in dreary tents, or try to hide their bulging baby belly. No, today we celebrate the baby bump. There is even a growing industry of maternity photo sessions. How will you celebrate the process of growing a new life, the changes happening within you as baby grows? Keeping a photo diary has become a popular option. Now is the time to start recording the growth of your baby belly, as you just now may be seeing the first hints of a protruding abdomen. Take a photo in same pose and place every week or two. As the pregnancy progresses, and your growth explodes, take them more frequently. It will be a lovely reminder and keepsake and someday your little "bump" will enjoy seeing their first photos, in utero!

I'm officially 14 weeks and 4 days, and i'm bleeding heavy to light going on 2 days now, with light cramping and headaches. i'm so worried, and i went to the doctors' and they said it's normal. i'm so drained when i do so little. is this normal?

14 weeks 5 days pregnant with baby #2 not showing at all worried and cramping time to time :( cant wait for scan in 1 week!! good luck to all you mummys

Guest Jun 11, 2014 06:41:46 PM ET

I feel the same way. i'm 14 weeks and 2 days, and i have yet to hear the baby's heart beat. i have had 2 scans so far, both showing baby is right on track and we saw a definite heart beat, but at my 10 week appt. my doctor couldn't find a heart beat. being confident, he said it was just because it was still early, but i cant help but worry. i actually welcome my morning sickness now as reassurance that baby is still in there and growing.

So my last appt with my baby doc was at 12 weeks and 4 days we already heard the heart beat a week earlier it was 160 and on the 8th of this month i found out that my first child was gonna b a boy me and my fiance is so excited and we are truly blessed and thankful bc im still so early but now we know what our baby is and wwe thank god for him everyday

I am 14 weeks 5 days . i haven't had any morning sickness but i did have a little bit of night time nausea around 7-8 weeks but that's it . lately i've only had fatigue and constant headaches . i had an ultrasound done at 7+4 , tried to listen to the heartbeat at 10 weeks but couldn't hear it . went for another appointment at 14+3 and heard the heartbeat loud and clear at 153bpm . we are very excited & this is our first child . but we still haven't bought anything yet .

I am 14 weeks as of tmarow.. i didnt have any sign or sickness.. i found out when i was 12 weeks just by taking a test.. my twin sister was sick for 2months with headaches and nausea in out if hospital took 6 test 4 blood test and they all came back negative... i randomly took a test coz i realised my cycle was late & it came back positive ... boy was she mad as soon as i found out that it was me she got better again i still dont get sickness but i do
gey the migraines alot is that normal & i sleep like all the time.. even if i wana get out of bed i can't i have to sleep is that normal i get back avhez and i feel hungry like ive never eaten b4 but wen i do eat i could have half a bowl nd be full than eat a hour later i forget im pregnant sometimes my whole body is sore even my legs and ankles im excited to feel bby kick and to find out wat we r having either way as long as bby is heqlthy excited 1st time mommy :)

Im 24 this is my second pregnancy (14 wks 1 day). it is much more different than my first, my first is 5 yr old girl, with her i did not know i was pregnant until 3 1/2 months and had no symtoms besides the growing belly. with this second one i found out at 5 weeks and have every symptom in the book even acne!! i crossfit so i feel pretty good about my fitness plan. (with modifications of course) looking forward to being a momma again due date december 26, 2013.

14weeks & 4days, mood swings, no morning sickness, but lots of nausea which is finally easing up. the gas was horrible all last month, the aches and pains, terrible. this is my 4th pregnancy, my angel twins would be 14, and my two beautiful girls are 10 & 11, and this pregnancy is scaring the shards outta me, as i am now 38 years, feeling the baby already, then sometimes i don't feel pregnant but next thing you know, i'm looking four months! then i'm thinking twins cause i'm starving almost all the time, feeling honest to goodness movements all over the place, then there are the must-have naps! lol i'm trying to keep up with this one already! and is it possible to be frequenting the lab even more now??? and the heartburn...! anyone else crave lay's original potato chips, vanilla ice cream, and orange juice, like, everyday???